JP4500574B2 - Wide dynamic range color solid-state imaging device and digital camera equipped with the solid-state imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wide dynamic range color solid-state imaging device and a digital camera equipped with the solid-state imaging device.

  In a CCD type solid-state imaging device or a CMOS type solid-state imaging device mounted on a digital camera, a large number of photoelectric conversion elements (photodiodes) serving as a light receiving portion on the surface of a semiconductor substrate and photoelectrics obtained by the respective photoelectric conversion elements. A signal readout circuit for reading the conversion signal to the outside is formed. The signal readout circuit includes a charge transfer circuit and a transfer electrode in the case of the CCD type, and a MOS circuit and a signal wiring in the case of the CMOS type.

  Therefore, the conventional solid-state imaging device has a problem that a large number of light receiving portions and signal readout circuits must be formed on the same semiconductor substrate surface, and the area of the light receiving portions cannot be increased.

  Further, in the conventional single-plate type solid-state imaging device, for example, one of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters is stacked on each light receiving unit, and each light receiving unit has one color. The optical signal is detected. For this reason, for example, the blue light signal and the green light signal at the position of the light receiving unit that detects red light are obtained by interpolating the detection signals of the respective light receiving units that detect the surrounding blue light and green light, This causes false colors and reduces the resolution. In addition, the blue light and green light incident on the light receiving portion on which the red color filter is formed are absorbed as heat by the color filter without contributing to photoelectric conversion, and thus the light use efficiency is poor and the sensitivity is low. There is also a problem.

  While the conventional solid-state imaging device has various problems as described above, the increase in the number of pixels has progressed, and at present, a large number of light receiving units of several million pixels are integrated on a single-chip semiconductor substrate. The aperture size of each light receiving unit is approaching the wavelength order. For this reason, it is difficult to expect the above-described image sensors and more image sensors in the CCD type and the CMOS type in terms of image quality and sensitivity.

  Therefore, for example, the structure of the solid-state imaging device described in Patent Document 1 below has been reviewed. In this solid-state imaging device, a red detection photosensitive layer, a green detection photosensitive layer, and a blue detection photosensitive layer are laminated on a semiconductor substrate on which a signal readout circuit is formed by a film forming technique. The photosensitive layer is used as a light receiving portion, and a photoelectric conversion signal obtained in each photosensitive layer is extracted to the outside by a signal reading circuit, that is, a photoelectric conversion film laminated type structure is employed.

  With such a structure, it is not necessary to provide a light receiving portion on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, so that there are no restrictions on the design of the signal readout circuit, and the light utilization efficiency of incident light is improved and the sensitivity is improved. Furthermore, the light of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue can be detected with one pixel, so the resolution is improved and the false color is eliminated, which solves the problems of the conventional CCD type and CMOS type solid-state imaging devices described above. It becomes possible to do.

  Therefore, in recent years, photoelectric conversion film stacked solid-state imaging devices described in Patent Documents 2, 3, 4, and 5 have been proposed, and an organic semiconductor is used as the photosensitive layer. Or using nanoparticles.

  Further, even in a conventional CMOS type solid-state imaging device, as described in Patent Document 6 below, it is formed in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate by utilizing the fact that the light penetration distance to the semiconductor substrate varies depending on the wavelength of light. Three photodiodes have been developed that detect the three primary colors of red, green, and blue with one pixel without using a color filter.

JP 58-103165 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-83946 Special Table 2002-502120 Special table 2003-502847 Japanese Patent No. 3405099 Special Table 2002-513145

  Since the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device and the conventional solid-state imaging device in which three photodiodes are formed in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate can detect three primary colors with one pixel without using a color filter, Problems such as false colors can be solved. However, when the number of pixels is increased, there is a problem that the amount of signal charge that can be detected per pixel is reduced and the dynamic range is lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a color solid-state imaging device capable of expanding the dynamic range with a solid-state imaging device configured to detect photoelectric conversion signals of a plurality of colors with one pixel, and a digital camera equipped with the solid-state imaging device. It is in.

In the color solid-state imaging device of the present invention, a plurality of pixels are arranged in a lattice pattern on a semiconductor substrate, and each of the pixels is stacked on the semiconductor substrate, and a photoelectric conversion film for red detection and a photoelectric conversion for green detection In a color solid-state imaging device including a film and a photoelectric conversion film for blue detection, the pixel having a relatively large area is disposed at one checkered position in the grid-like arrangement, and the other checkered position A signal readout circuit that arranges the pixels having a relatively small area and reads signals detected by the photoelectric conversion film for red detection of each of the adjacent large-area pixels and the small-area pixels. Provided in common with the substrate, and provided in the semiconductor substrate with a signal readout circuit for reading out signals detected by the photoelectric conversion film for green detection of each of the adjacent large-area pixels and the small-area pixels. The above Said signal reading circuit for reading out the detected signals by the photoelectric conversion layer for the blue detection of each of the pixels of the pixel and the small area of the large area in contact is characterized by providing shared on the semiconductor substrate.

  With this configuration, a color image with a wide dynamic range can be captured.

In the color solid-state imaging device according to the present invention, a plurality of pixels are arranged in a lattice pattern on a semiconductor substrate, and each of the pixels is arranged in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate with a red detection photodiode, a green detection photodiode, and a blue detection. In a color solid-state imaging device including a photodiode, the pixel having a relatively large area is disposed at one checkered position in the grid-like arrangement, and a relatively small area is disposed at the other checkered position. The pixel is arranged, and a signal readout circuit for reading a signal from the red detection photodiode of each of the adjacent large-area pixel and the small-area pixel is provided in common on the semiconductor substrate, and the adjacent A signal readout circuit for reading a signal from the green detection photodiode of each of the large area pixel and the small area pixel is provided in common on the semiconductor substrate, Serial, characterized in that the pixels and the signal reading circuit for reading out a signal from each of the blue detection photodiodes of the pixels of the small area of the large area adjacent provided in common to the semiconductor substrate.

With this configuration, a color image with a wide dynamic range can be captured .

  A digital camera according to the present invention includes any one of the color solid-state imaging devices described above.

  With this configuration, it is possible to capture a color image with a wide dynamic range, high light utilization efficiency, no false color, and high resolution.

  The digital camera of the present invention interpolates a high-sensitivity color signal output from the high-sensitivity pixel of the color solid-state imaging device, generates a high-sensitivity color signal at the imaginary pixel position of the pixel, and generates the low-sensitivity pixel An image signal for generating a color image signal by interpolating the low-sensitivity color signal output from the pixel to generate a low-sensitivity color signal at the imaginary pixel position of the pixel and combining the high-sensitivity color signal and the low-sensitivity color signal A processing means is provided.

  With this configuration, a higher-resolution color image can be output.

  The digital camera of the present invention discards the signal charge photoelectrically converted and accumulated by the low-sensitivity pixels at a predetermined timing while the mechanical shutter is open, and the mechanical shutter after the predetermined timing. Sensitivity adjusting means for reading out a signal corresponding to the signal charge photoelectrically converted and accumulated by the low-sensitivity pixel until the shutter is closed as a signal of the low-sensitivity pixel is provided. In addition, the sensitivity adjustment unit may perform sensitivity adjustment using the high-sensitivity pixel instead of the low-sensitivity pixel.

  With this configuration, the sensitivity ratio between the high sensitivity pixel and the low sensitivity pixel can be adjusted to an arbitrary sensitivity ratio suitable for the shooting scene.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a color image with a wide dynamic range, high image quality and high resolution.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera equipped with a photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This digital camera is output from an imaging optical system 1 such as a photographing lens, an aperture, and a shutter, a photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100, which will be described in detail later, and a photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100. An analog / digital converter 2 that converts an analog image signal into a digital signal, an image signal processing unit 3 that performs image processing on the digital image signal and stores it in a recording medium or displays it on a display device, and a photoelectric conversion film A drive unit 4 that performs drive control of the multilayer solid-state imaging device 100; and a control unit 5 that takes in a signal from an operation unit such as a shutter button and controls the image signal processing unit 3, the drive unit 4, and the imaging optical system 1. Is provided.

  Note that when the analog / digital conversion device is integrally provided at the output stage of the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100, the analog / digital converter 2 is not required.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the surface of the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100. In this photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100, a large area high-sensitivity pixel 101 and a small area low-sensitivity pixel 102 are alternately formed in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. They are arranged in a square lattice as a whole. The arrangement of only the high sensitivity pixels 101 is a checkered arrangement, and the arrangement of only the low sensitivity pixels 102 is also a checkered arrangement.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the high-sensitivity pixel 101 has a large area and the low-sensitivity pixel 102 has a small area. However, both the high-sensitivity pixel 101 and the low-sensitivity pixel 102 have the same area, and only on the high-sensitivity pixel 101. A configuration may be adopted in which incident light having a larger area than the low-sensitivity pixel 102 is collected on the high-sensitivity pixel 101 by mounting a microlens.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image signal processing unit 3 shown in FIG. A high-sensitivity color signal is output from the high-sensitivity pixel 101 of the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100, and a low-sensitivity color signal is output from the low-sensitivity pixel 102. The image signal processing unit 3 The signal and the low-sensitivity color signal are processed separately and then combined.

  Therefore, the image signal processing unit 3 processes the color signal correction unit 6H that processes the high-sensitivity color signal, the white balance processing unit 7H, the gamma conversion unit 8H, the imaginary pixel color signal interpolation unit 9H, and the low-sensitivity color signal. Color signal correction unit 6L, white balance processing unit 7L, gamma correction unit 8L, imaginary pixel color signal interpolation unit 9L, and high sensitivity color signals and low sensitivity color output from imaginary pixel signal interpolation units 9H and 9L And a color image synthesis unit 10 for synthesizing signals.

  In the imaginary pixel color signal interpolation, for example, at the center of four high-sensitivity pixels 101 adjacent in the horizontal and vertical directions, the high-sensitivity pixel 101 does not exist and the low-sensitivity pixel 102 exists. That is, when viewed from the high-sensitivity pixel 101, the position where the low-sensitivity pixel 102 exists is a pixel (imaginary pixel) position where the high-sensitivity pixel 101 does not actually exist, and conversely, the position where the high-sensitivity pixel 101 exists is where the low-sensitivity pixel 102 exists. This is the pixel (imaginary pixel) position that is not.

  The high-sensitivity color signal and the low-sensitivity color signal at these imaginary pixel positions are obtained by interpolating the high-sensitivity color signal and the low-sensitivity color signal obtained from the surrounding actual pixels. Hereinafter, for convenience, the actual pixel position of the high-sensitivity pixel 101 is referred to as an H lattice point, and the actual pixel position of the low-sensitivity pixel 102 is referred to as an L lattice point.

  The red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color signals that are output from the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100 and A / D converted have poor color reproducibility, and thus the above color. In the signal correction units 6H and 6L, color signal correction is performed by the matrix calculation shown in the following equations 1 and 2, respectively.

  That is, for the actual high-sensitivity color signal at the H grid point,

However, S _RH (x, y), S _GH (x, y), and S _BH (x, y) are actual high-sensitivity color signals for RGB at the H grid point (x, y), S ′ _RH (x _{, y), S 'GH (} x, y), S' BH (x, y) is highly sensitive color signals RGB after _correction, G ll _{~G 33} is a constant.

  Similarly, for the actual low-sensitivity color signal at the L grid point,

However, S _RL (x, y), S _GL (x, y), and S _BL (x, y) are actual low-sensitivity color signals for RGB at the L lattice point (x, y), S ′ _RL (x , Y), S ′ _GL (x, y), S ′ _BL (x, y) are RGB color signals after correction, and G _{11 to} G ₃₃ are constants.

  The next white balance processing units 7H and 7L adjust the gain so that the ratio of R: G: B = 1: 1: 1 is obtained when the input RGB color signal captures uniform white. Output.

  The next gamma converters 8H and 8L perform non-linear processing according to the gamma characteristics on the input RGB color signals and output the processed signals. In this case, different nonlinear processes may be performed on the high-sensitivity color signal and the low-sensitivity color signal, or the same nonlinear process may be performed. The advantage of the different processing is that the gamma characteristics after synthesis can be adjusted. The advantage of the same processing is that the load required for processing (increase in processing time and the number of gates) can be reduced.

  Next, the imaginary pixel color signal interpolation units 9H and 9L determine the local pattern characteristics of the high-sensitivity color signal and the low-sensitivity color, and the colors of the imaginary pixel positions with respect to the high-sensitivity color signal and the low-sensitivity color signal, respectively. Generate a signal. For example, the color signal of the imaginary pixel position is generated by the following equation 3.

  However, when the pixel position (x, y) is an L lattice point, G (x, y) is a high-sensitivity color signal, and when the pixel position (x, y) is an H lattice point, G (x, y) is The low-sensitivity color signal, K is a positive constant, and Z is the following equation (4).

  The next color image composition unit 10 generates a composite color signal from the high sensitivity color signal and the low sensitivity color signal at the same pixel position (including the imaginary pixel position) by the following equation (5).

However, Rcomp (x, y), Gcomp (x, y), and Bcomp (x, y) are the combined color signals of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) at the pixel position (x, y). , R _H (x, y), G _H (x, y), B _H (x, y) are the heights of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) at the pixel position (x, y). The sensitivity color signals R _L (x, y), G _L (x, y), and B _L (x, y) are red (R), green (G), and blue (B) at the pixel position (x, y). ), A low-sensitivity color signal, α is a synthesis parameter, which is a constant in the range of 0 to 1. The value of α is preferably 0.5 to 0.8.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the color signal generation of the imaginary pixel is performed after the gamma conversion, but may be performed before the gamma conversion or before the white balance. Further, although the color image synthesis is performed using the parameter α, the color image synthesis is not limited to this, and other synthesis methods may be used.

Further, the description has been made on the assumption that the solid-state imaging device outputs signals of three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). For example, in addition to these three primary colors, blue (B) In the case of using a solid-state imaging device that also outputs a green (G) intermediate wavelength color signal, the color signal correction unit in FIG. 3 performs a 3 × 4 matrix operation and converts the four color signals into three RGB colors. A process of converting to a color signal (for example, a process of subtracting the signal amount of the fourth color from the red signal amount to make a red signal and realizing human visibility: see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 28 72 759) The only difference is the same process.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the high sensitivity pixel 101 and the low sensitivity pixel 102 and the vertical transfer path formed thereunder. The high-sensitivity pixel 101, the low-sensitivity pixel 102 and the vertical transfer path side are connected by a vertical wiring described later. FIG. 4 also shows the positions of the vertical wirings that are arranged below the pixels and are actually not visible from above. .

  The high-sensitivity pixel 101 is provided with three vertical wirings of a vertical wiring 31b for a blue signal, a vertical wiring 31g for a green signal, and a vertical wiring 31r for a red signal, and the vertical wirings 31b, 31g, 31r is erected straight at the position shown in the figure. Three vertical transfer paths 40b, 40g, and 40r are formed in the same width on the semiconductor substrate directly under the high-sensitivity pixel 101. The subscripts r, g, and b correspond to red (R), green (G), and blue (B), which are the colors of incident light to be detected, as in the following.

  Blue signal charges generated by a blue photoelectric conversion film, which will be described later, are accumulated in the signal charge accumulation section directly below through the vertical wiring 31b, and this signal charge is read and transferred to the vertical transfer path 40b.

  Similarly, a green signal charge generated by a green photoelectric conversion film, which will be described later, is accumulated in the signal charge accumulation section directly below through the vertical wiring 31g, and this signal charge is read and transferred to the vertical transfer path 40g.

  Similarly, a blue signal charge generated by a red photoelectric conversion film, which will be described later, is accumulated in the signal charge accumulation section directly below through the vertical wiring 31r, and this signal charge is read out and transferred to the vertical transfer path 40r.

  The low-sensitivity pixel 102 is also provided with three vertical wirings 32b, 32g, and 32r. However, since the low-sensitivity pixel 102 has a smaller area than the high-sensitivity pixel 101, the intervals between the vertical wirings 32b, 32g, and 32r are narrow. For this reason, when the vertical wiring 32g corresponding to the middle green is lowered straight and matched with the signal charge storage section provided in the middle vertical transfer path 40g, the vertical wiring 32b is provided in the signal charge storage section provided in the vertical transfer path 40b. 34b, the vertical wiring 32r is also detached from the signal charge storage portion 34r of the vertical transfer path 40r.

  Therefore, with respect to the vertical wirings 32b and 32r, a later-described horizontal wiring is provided in the middle so that the blue signal charge and the red signal charge are stored in the signal charge storage units 34b and 34r, respectively. Thereby, each color signal charge by the high sensitivity pixel 101 and each color signal charge by the low sensitivity pixel 102 can be transferred by the same vertical transfer path provided for each color.

  That is, the blue signal charge by the high sensitivity pixel 101 and the blue signal charge by the low sensitivity pixel 102 are transferred by the same vertical transfer path 40b, and the green signal charge by the high sensitivity pixel 101 and the green signal charge by the low sensitivity pixel 102 are the same. The red signal charge by the high sensitivity pixel 101 and the red signal charge by the low sensitivity pixel 102 are transferred by the same vertical transfer path 40r.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vertical wiring portion of the high-sensitivity pixel 101 and the low-sensitivity pixel 102. A P well layer 51 is formed on the surface portion of the n-type semiconductor substrate 50, and the surface portion is divided for each vertical transfer path by a channel stop (P ⁺ region) 52. Between each channel stop 52, an n-type semiconductor layer 53 constituting a vertical transfer path and a corresponding signal charge storage portion (n-type semiconductor region) 33r for each color are formed slightly apart.

  The signal charge storage units 33r, 33g, 33b, 34r, 34g, and 34b are formed to have the same size, and the vertical wirings 31b, 31g, 31r, 32b, 32g, and 32r are connected to each other. A gate insulating film 55 is laminated on the semiconductor surface, and a transfer electrode film 56 made of polysilicon is formed thereon.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the surface of the vertical transfer path. Six vertical transfer paths 40b, 40g, 40r, 40b, 40g, and 40r are illustrated, and the vertical wiring 31b is connected from the high-sensitivity pixel 101 to the same vertical position (first phase transfer electrode region) Φv1 of each vertical transfer path. A signal charge accumulating unit 33b for accumulating the blue signal charge taken in through the high-sensitivity pixel 101, a signal charge accumulating unit 33g for accumulating the green signal charge taken in from the high-sensitivity pixel 101 through the vertical wire 31g, and a signal charge accumulating unit 33g A signal charge accumulating portion 33r for accumulating red signal charges is provided.

  Similarly, in the same vertical position, a signal charge accumulating unit 34b that accumulates the blue signal charge taken from the low sensitivity pixel 102 through the vertical wiring 32b and a signal charge accumulation that accumulates the green signal charge taken from the low sensitivity pixel 102 through the vertical wiring 32g. A portion 34g and a signal charge accumulating portion 34r for accumulating red signal charges taken from the low sensitivity pixel 102 through the vertical wiring 32r are provided.

  The second phase transfer electrode region Φv2, the third phase transfer electrode region Φv3, the fourth phase in the vertical direction from the first phase transfer electrode region Φv1 (= transfer electrode film 56 in FIG. 5: this also serves as a read gate electrode). In the next first phase transfer electrode region Φv1 following the transfer electrode region Φv4, the arrangement positions of the high sensitivity pixel 101 and the low sensitivity pixel 102 are reversed. The regions 34b, 34g, 34r and the signal charge storage regions 33b, 33g, 33r of the high sensitivity pixel 101 are arranged in this order.

Returning to FIG. 5, the surface of the semiconductor substrate to the transfer electrode film 56 constituting the vertical transfer path is formed is covered with light-shielding film 57 with the insulating film 58 elaborate seen today. A conductor film 59 is formed on the insulating film 58. The conductor film 59 is patterned to be a connecting portion that connects the lower vertical wirings 31b, 31g, 31r, 32b, 32g, and 32r and the upper vertical wirings 31b, 31g, 31r, 32b, 32g, and 32r. .

  That is, the horizontal wiring 59a for connecting the vertical wirings 32b and 32r on both sides of the low-sensitivity pixel (small pixel) 102 described with reference to FIG. 4 to the signal charge storage regions 34b and 34r of the vertical transfer paths 40b and 40r is provided. Patterned.

  An insulating film 60 is laminated on the patterned conductor film 59, and electrode films (hereinafter referred to as pixel electrode films) 61r and 62r divided for each pixel are laminated thereon. The pixel electrode film 61r is an electrode film that partitions the high-sensitivity pixel 101, and its shape is an octagon in the example shown in FIG. The pixel electrode film 62r is an electrode film that partitions the low-sensitivity pixel 102, and has a square shape in the example illustrated in FIG. The vertical wiring 31r is connected to the pixel electrode film 61r, and the vertical wiring 32r is connected to the pixel electrode film 62r.

  A photoelectric conversion film 63r for detecting red (R) is laminated on the pixel electrode films 61r and 62r. The photoelectric conversion film 63r does not need to be provided separately for each pixel, and is laminated in a single structure on the entire light receiving surface.

  On the photoelectric conversion film 63r, a common electrode film 64r common to the pixels 101 and 102 for detecting a red signal is also laminated in a single structure, and a transparent insulating film 65 is laminated thereon. The common electrode film 64r may be patterned and divided for each pixel. However, since the same bias voltage is applied to these common electrode films 64r, wiring portions connecting the electrode films 64r when patterning are performed. Leave.

  On the insulating film 65, pixel electrode films 61g and 62g divided for each pixel are stacked. The pixel electrode film 61g is an electrode film that partitions the high-sensitivity pixel 101, and the shape thereof is an octagon that is the same shape as the pixel electrode film 61r. The pixel electrode film 62g is an electrode film that partitions the low-sensitivity pixel 102, and the shape thereof is a square having the same shape as the pixel electrode film 62r. The vertical wiring 31g is connected to the pixel electrode film 61g, and the vertical wiring 32g is connected to the pixel electrode film 62g.

  On the pixel electrode films 61g and 62g, a photoelectric conversion film 63g for detecting green (G) is laminated in the same manner as described above, and a common electrode film 64g is further laminated thereon, and on the upper part, A transparent insulating film 66 is laminated.

  On the insulating film 66, pixel electrode films 61b and 62b divided for each pixel are stacked. The pixel electrode film 61b is an electrode film that partitions the high-sensitivity pixel 101, and its shape is an octagon that is the same shape as the pixel electrode film 61r. The pixel electrode film 62b is an electrode film that partitions the low-sensitivity pixel 102, and the shape thereof is a square having the same shape as the pixel electrode film 62r. The vertical wiring 31b is connected to the pixel electrode film 61b, and the vertical wiring 32b is connected to the pixel electrode film 62b.

On the pixel electrode films 61b and 62b, a photoelectric conversion film 63b for detecting blue (B) is laminated in the same manner as described above, and a common electrode film 64b is further laminated thereon, and the uppermost layer is transparent. A protective film 67 is laminated.
The

  The pixel electrode films 61r, 61g, and 61b corresponding to the high sensitivity pixel 101 are provided in alignment with the incident light direction, and the pixel electrode films 62r, 62g, and 62b corresponding to the low sensitivity pixel 102 are also aligned in the incident light direction. Provided.

  In other words, the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to detect three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) with one pixel. When high sensitivity “pixel” or low sensitivity “pixel” is described, it refers to pixels 101 and 102 that detect three colors, and when color pixel, red pixel, green pixel, and blue pixel are described, It is assumed that a partial pixel for detecting color (a portion of a photoelectric conversion film sandwiched between a common electrode film and one pixel electrode film).

As the homogeneous transparent electrode films 61r, 61g, 61b, 62r, 62g, 62b, 64r, 64g, 64b, tin oxide (SnO ₂ ), titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ), indium oxide (InO ₂ ), indium oxide— Although a tin (ITO) thin film is used, it is not limited to this.

  The photoelectric conversion films 63r, 63g, and 63b may be single-layer films or multilayer films, and the film materials are composed of inorganic materials such as silicon and compound semiconductors, organic semiconductors, organic materials including organic dyes, and nanoparticles. Various materials such as a quantum dot deposited film can be used.

  When incident light enters the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100 having such a configuration, blue light in the incident light undergoes photoelectric conversion by the blue photoelectric conversion film 63b, and green light undergoes photoelectric conversion by the green photoelectric conversion film 63g. The red light undergoes photoelectric conversion in the red photoelectric conversion film 63r, and signal charges corresponding to the amounts of incident light of the respective color lights are generated.

  When a voltage is applied between the common electrode film 64r, g, b and each pixel electrode film 61r, g, b, 62r, g, b, the signal charges generated in each pixel correspond to the corresponding vertical wirings 31r, g, b. , 32r, g, b, the signal charge accumulation units 33r, g, b, 34r, g, b flow to and accumulate.

  Since the amount of incident light in the high-sensitivity pixel 101 is larger than the incident light incident on the low-sensitivity pixel 102, even if the signal charge amount generated in the high-sensitivity pixel 101 is saturated, the low-sensitivity pixel 102 does not saturate.

  Therefore, the red signal charge, the green signal charge, and the blue signal charge by the high sensitivity pixel 101 and the red signal charge, the green signal charge, and the blue signal charge by the low sensitivity pixel 102 are converted into the signal charge storage units 33r, g in FIG. , B, 34r, g, b are read out to the first phase transfer electrode region Φv1 through the read gate unit 69, and then transferred to the horizontal transfer path (not shown) such as the second phase, the third phase,. A high-sensitivity color signal and a low-sensitivity color signal are output from the solid-state imaging device 100 by transferring the horizontal transfer path, and processed by the image signal processing circuit of FIG. 3, whereby a color image with a wide dynamic range can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the surface of the photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the surface of four vertical transfer paths formed on the semiconductor substrate surface (two high-sensitivity pixels × two low-sensitivity pixels) and corresponds to FIG. 6 of the first embodiment. It is a figure to do.

  In the second embodiment, the positions where the vertical wirings 31b, 31g, 31r provided in the high sensitivity pixel 101 are lowered, that is, the vertical positions of the signal charge storage regions 33b, 33g, 33r, and the vertical wirings 32b, 32g provided in the low sensitivity pixel 102. , 32r, the vertical positions where the signal charge storage regions 34b, 34g, 34r are provided are shifted by two transfer electrode regions.

  In the first embodiment, the sensitivity ratio between the high-sensitivity pixel 101 and the low-sensitivity pixel 102 (sensitivity of the high-sensitivity pixel / sensitivity of the low-sensitivity pixel) is different in structure such as the aperture area of the pixel and the size of the microlens. This is a fixed value. However, in an actual imaging scene, it is desirable to adjust the sensitivity ratio to an optimum level. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is used in order to variably adjust the sensitivity ratio.

  FIG. 9 is an operation timing chart in the digital camera equipped with the photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging device according to this embodiment. The configuration of this digital camera is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the control unit 5 drives the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device 100 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 through the drive unit 4 as follows. To do. Note that the hatched portion in FIG. 9 is a diagram in which continuous transfer pulses are omitted.

During the period (t _{1 to} t ₃ ) during which the mechanical shutter MS constituting the optical system 1 is open (time t ₂ ), the readout pulse f 1 is applied to Φv 1 that is the readout electrode of the low-sensitivity pixel 102. The low-sensitivity pixels 102 and their signal charge storage units 34b, g, r are read out to the vertical transfer paths 40b, g, r. Then, during the period after the mechanical shutter is closed (t _{4 to} t ₅ ), a high-speed sweep pulse (black is filled because the pulses are densely packed) is applied to the vertical transfer path, Empty unnecessary charges.

  At time t6, read pulses f2 and f3 are applied to Φv1 and Φv3, the signal charges of each color of the high-sensitivity pixel 101 and the low-sensitivity pixel 102 are read out to the vertical transfer path, and each color signal charge is transferred to the horizontal transfer path. Output to the outside from the transfer path.

The low-sensitivity pixel 102, the light from the timing t ₁ of the opening mechanical shutter photoelectric conversion signals incident is generated, since the read pulse f1 is applied at time t _2, the storage time t ₁ ~t ₂ The signal charge is discarded in the vertical transfer path and swept out by the high-speed sweep pulse.

Is accumulated photoelectric conversion signal generated by the light incident on the time t ₂ after which is read to the vertical transfer path by the read pulse f2, it is transferred. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the low-sensitivity pixel 102 is reduced to (t ₃ −t ₂ ) / (t ₃ −t ₁ ) times. That is, by adjusting the timing of the readout pulse f1, it is possible to adjust the sensitivity ratio suitable for the shooting scene. Similarly, the sensitivity of the high sensitivity pixel 101 can be reduced.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a signal readout circuit of a photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device according to the first and second embodiments, the signal readout circuit provided on the semiconductor substrate is constituted by a charge coupled device (vertical transfer path, horizontal transfer path). The signal readout circuit is composed of a MOS transistor circuit.

  FIG. 10 shows a signal readout circuit of 2 high sensitivity pixels × 2 low sensitivity pixels. Since each pixel is provided with a blue signal readout, a green signal readout, and a red signal readout, a total of 12 signal readout circuits are provided. Since each signal readout circuit has the same configuration, only one signal readout circuit is described, and the others are denoted by the same reference numerals r, g, and b, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The red signal readout circuit of the low sensitivity pixel 102 includes a charge detection cell 70 and a charge readout MOS transistor 76r (75r in the case of a high sensitivity pixel). The configuration from the pixel electrode film of the photoelectric conversion film to the signal charge accumulation unit 34r for reading and accumulating signal charges is the same as in the first and second embodiments, but in this embodiment, the signal charge accumulation unit 34r includes The source of the charge readout MOS transistor 76r is connected, and the gate is connected to the low sensitivity pixel readout signal line 77 (the high sensitivity pixel readout signal line is 78). The drain is connected to the gate portion of the output transistor 71 described later.

  The charge detection cell 70 includes an output transistor 71, a row selection transistor 72, and a reset transistor 73. The source of the output transistor 71 is connected to the column signal line (signal output line) 81r, the gate is connected to the source of the reset transistor 73, and the drain is connected to the source of the row selection transistor 72. The drains of the row selection transistor 72 and the reset transistor 73 are connected to the DC power supply line 82, the gate of the row selection transistor 72 is connected to the row selection signal line 83, and the gate of the reset transistor 73 is the reset signal. Connected to line 84.

  These DC power supply line 82, row selection signal line 83, and reset signal line 84 are connected to and controlled by a row selection scanning circuit (not shown) provided on the semiconductor substrate. The column signal lines 81r, g, b are also connected to an image signal output unit (not shown), and the image signal output unit outputs the color signals captured from these column signal lines 81r, g, b to the outside.

  In the signal readout circuit having such a configuration, when a signal is read out from a pixel in a certain row, a row selection signal 83 for designating the row is output from the row selection scanning circuit. As a result, the row selection transistor of the row becomes conductive. At this time, when an ON signal is output from the row selection scanning circuit to the low sensitivity pixel readout signal line 77 of the row, the charge readout transistor of the low sensitivity pixel 102 is read. The transistors 76 r, g, b are turned on, and the accumulated charges of the signal charge accumulating portions 34 r, g, b flow into the gate portion of the output transistor 71. As a result, signals corresponding to the color signal charge amounts are output to the column signal lines 81r, g, b, and are taken into the image signal output unit.

  FIG. 11 is a timing chart for performing sensitivity adjustment in the photoelectric conversion film stacked color solid-state imaging device including the signal readout circuit of FIG. 10 as in the second embodiment.

In the course of time _{t ll} period mechanical shutter MS is open _(t l0 _{~t 12),} applies the signals RD _L out pixel read low-sensitivity image signal line 77 with respect to all of the low-sensitivity pixel 102. Thereby, the signal charge of the low-sensitivity pixel flows into the gate portion of the output transistor 71, and the charge of the signal charge storage unit becomes zero. The charge flowing into the gate portion of the output transistor 71 is discarded to the DC power supply line 82 by turning on the reset transistor 73.

  After the mechanical shutter MS is closed, the signal charges of the low-sensitivity pixel 102 and the high-sensitivity pixel 101 are sequentially read out to the gate portion of the output transistor 71 and output to the image signal output unit.

With this operation, the sensitivity of the low-sensitivity pixel 102 is reduced by (t ₁₂ −t _ll ) / (t ₁₂ −t ₁₀ ) times. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the sensitivity ratio suitable for the shooting scene. Similarly, by adjusting the timing of outputting the high-sensitivity image pixel read signal RD _H to the signal line 78 for the high-sensitivity pixel 101, it is possible to reduce the sensitivity of the high sensitivity pixels.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of a signal readout circuit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, signals of the same color are read out simultaneously from the low-sensitivity pixels 102 and the high-sensitivity pixels 101 in the same row, but in this embodiment, they are read out separately. That is, the red signal readout circuit of the upper sensitive pixel 101 in the upper part of FIG. 10 and the red signal readout circuit of the lower sensitive pixel 102 in the upper part are shared, and the charge sensing cell 70 is used as one, and the charge readout on the low sensitive pixel side is performed. The drain of the transistor for transistor 76r and the charge readout transistor 75r on the high sensitivity pixel side are connected to the gate of the transistor for output 71 in common.

  Accordingly, when a readout signal is applied simultaneously to the high sensitivity pixel readout signal line 78 and the low sensitivity pixel readout signal line 77, signal charges simultaneously flow from the transistors 76r and 75r to the gate of the output transistor 71 and are mixed, so that the pixels are mixed. When reading out, it is necessary to output the low-sensitivity pixel readout signal and the high-sensitivity pixel readout signal non-simultaneously.

  In this embodiment, two read operations are required for each row, but the column signal lines are halved compared to the configuration of FIG. 10, the number of transistors is reduced, and pixel miniaturization is facilitated. There are advantages. In order to adjust the sensitivity ratio of each pixel, the same control as in FIG. 11 may be performed.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the circuit configuration of the charge detection cell is in the order of connection of the DC power supply line, the row selection transistor, the output transistor, and the column signal line, but the DC power supply line, the output transistor, and the column signal line. The order of connection may be used.

  According to each of the embodiments described above, a high-sensitivity pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel are arranged in a checkered pixel position, and even when the high-sensitivity pixel is saturated, the signal of the low-sensitivity pixel that is not saturated becomes the color composite signal. Because it can contribute, it is possible to take an image with a wide dynamic range.

  For example, if the saturation exposure amount of low-sensitivity pixels / saturation exposure amount of high-sensitivity pixels = 4 is selected, the dynamic range becomes approximately four times wider. In addition, since the color signal of the imaginary pixel is interpolated using the local pattern correlation, an image with good resolution can be obtained.

  Each of the above-described embodiments is an example of a photoelectric conversion film stacked solid-state imaging device. However, a plurality of photodiodes are formed in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate, and photoelectric conversion signals of a plurality of colors are formed in one pixel. The present invention can be similarly applied to a color solid-state imaging device configured to obtain the above.

  Since the color solid-state imaging device according to the present invention can widen the dynamic range, it is useful to be mounted on a digital camera.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a digital camera equipped with a photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a surface schematic diagram of the photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging device shown in FIG. It is a detailed block diagram of the image signal processing part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the high sensitivity pixel of the photoelectric converting film laminated | stacked color solid-state imaging device shown in FIG. 1, a low sensitivity pixel, and a vertical transfer path. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. It is a surface schematic diagram of the vertical transfer path shown in FIG. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 4 of the photoelectric conversion film laminated | stacked color solid-state imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the surface schematic diagram of the vertical transfer path of the photoelectric converting film laminated | stacked color solid-state imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which performs sensitivity ratio adjustment with the photoelectric conversion film laminated | stacked color solid-state imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a signal readout circuit of a photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a timing chart which performs sensitivity ratio adjustment with the photoelectric converting film lamination type color solid-state imaging device concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is a circuit diagram of the signal read-out circuit of the photoelectric converting film laminated | stacked color solid-state imaging device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical system 3 Image signal processing part 4 Drive part 31r, 31g, 31b, 32r, 32g, 32b Vertical wiring 33r, 33g, 33b, 34r, 34g, 34b Signal charge storage part 40r, 40g, 40b Vertical transfer path 50 n type Semiconductor substrate 51 P-well layer 52 Channel stopper 53 n-type semiconductor region (for vertical transfer path)
56 Transfer electrode film 57 Light shielding film 58 Insulating layer 59a Horizontal wiring 60 Insulating films 61r, 61g, 61b Pixel electrode films 62r, 62g, 62b for high sensitivity pixels Pixel electrode films 63r, 63g, 63b for low sensitivity pixels Photoelectric conversion film 64r , 64g, 64b Common electrode film 70 Charge detection cell 71 Output transistor 72 Row selection transistor 73 Reset transistor 75r, 75g, 75b, 76r, 76g, 76b Charge read transistor 81r, 81g, 81b Column signal line (output signal) line)
100 Photoelectric Conversion Layer Stacked Color Solid-State Imaging Device 101 High Sensitivity Pixel 102 Low Sensitivity Pixel

Claims (6)

A plurality of pixels are arranged in a grid pattern on a semiconductor substrate, and each of the pixels is stacked on the semiconductor substrate. A photoelectric conversion film for red detection, a photoelectric conversion film for green detection, and a photoelectric conversion film for blue detection In the color solid-state imaging device, the pixels having a relatively large area are arranged at one checkered position in the grid-like arrangement, and the pixels having a relatively small area are arranged at the other checkered position. And a signal readout circuit for reading a signal detected by the photoelectric conversion film for red detection of each of the adjacent large-area pixel and the small-area pixel is provided in common on the semiconductor substrate, and the adjacent A signal readout circuit for reading out signals detected by the photoelectric conversion film for green color detection of each of the large area pixel and the small area pixel to be shared by the semiconductor substrate, and the adjacent large area pixel And before Color solid-state imaging device, characterized in that provided by sharing the signal reading circuit for reading out the detected signals by the photoelectric conversion layer for the blue detection of each of the pixels of the small area on the semiconductor substrate. A color solid-state imaging device in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a lattice pattern on a semiconductor substrate, and each of the pixels includes a red detection photodiode, a green detection photodiode, and a blue detection photodiode in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate. in, as well as placing the pixels of the relatively small area in the other position the pixels arranged in the checkered pattern relatively large area in a checkered pattern on one of the positions of the lattice array, adjacent A signal readout circuit that reads a signal from the red detection photodiode of each of the large area pixel and the small area pixel is provided in common on the semiconductor substrate, and the adjacent large area pixel and the small area pixel A signal readout circuit for reading a signal from the green color detection photodiode of each pixel is provided in common on the semiconductor substrate, and the adjacent large area pixel and It said color solid-state imaging device, characterized in that a signal reading circuit for reading out a signal from each of the blue detection photodiodes of the pixels of the small area is provided in common to the semiconductor substrate.   A digital camera having the color solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 mounted thereon.   Low sensitivity output from the small area pixel by interpolating the high sensitivity color signal output from the large area pixel of the color solid-state imaging device to generate a high sensitivity color signal at the imaginary pixel position of the pixel Image signal processing means for generating a color image signal by interpolating the color signal to generate a low sensitivity color signal at the imaginary pixel position of the pixel and combining the high sensitivity color signal and the low sensitivity color signal The digital camera according to claim 3.   The small area between the mechanical shutter and the signal that has been photoelectrically converted and accumulated by the small area pixels at a predetermined timing while the mechanical shutter is open until the mechanical shutter is closed after the predetermined timing. 5. The digital camera according to claim 3, further comprising a sensitivity adjustment unit that reads a signal photoelectrically converted by the pixel as a signal of the pixel having the small area.   The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the sensitivity adjustment unit performs sensitivity adjustment using the large area pixel instead of the small area pixel.

Images